As a reader of John D’Agata’s and a student in a creative nonfiction class, I do find it a bit hard to take in the truth of D’Agata’s note section at the close of his story, About a Mountain. Though it is arguable that this piece can be treated as a piece of fiction as he admits to the fabrication and alteration of information within the text, I still believe that this book merits classification as creative nonfiction. I say this because authors within this genera must create a story of truth meanwhile being allowed to insert their creativity and authorial intent so that they may give their readers a factual story through their own personal lends. Continue reading →

Classification of genre does not matter in the sense of story. Whether it be creative nonfiction or fiction, the authorial intent is the same, to create a story of meanings to their audience; to tell a story that may be related to the lives of others whether it be completely made up, or written in strict factual evidence. We as humans crave acceptance, attention, and love. All these matters are written about in this story as Slater must learn to come to terms with her sexuality, her relationship with her parents and most importantly, learn to live with herself as she is not as she is-not. Lying should most definitely be classified as memoir, though it could be fictional, it still merits such classification as it is the telling of a life story through the eyes of an individual with physical and psychological problems and how they perceive the world around them. Continue reading →

While I sat and listen to Serial I was effeminately emotionally attached. I am not sure why I became so emotional attached to this case as I have no ties to the “victim” “accused” or any other person within this case, yet I found myself objecting during the absurd dejection(s) within the case. It surprised me that I became so attached to this podcast, had I not been assigned to listen to it, I would not have, maybe even ever listen to it. Though, since I began to care, I found myself infuriated, saddened, excited, and even flabbergasted at times. Continue reading →

The idea that a writer is selling someone out as a means to write may in fact be true, though the means in which they do this may also lead an individual to believe that they are not selling them out, but telling ones store through their own personal lends. We all poses a different lends from that of our friend, brother, mother, or neighbor. The way in which we perceive things is how we then tell a story as Didion does throughout her essays in, Slouching Towards Bethlehem. This idea is evident all throughout her essays. Continue reading →